# I have to fast before surgery -- does my cat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 14, 2010, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-fast-before-surgery-does-my-cat/524895 "2010-01-14T04:56:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-fast-before-surgery-does-my-cat/524895/1 "2010-01-14T04:56:54Z")
Okay, I’ve never actually been in for surgery, and if I were going to, you can be pretty certain the surgery wouldn’t be castration. But the point is, if I were to be scheduled for an elective surgery, I would be instructed to fast from at least midnight the night before. AIUI, the reason has something to do with them not wanting to deal with me choking on my own vomit in the event that I had that reaction to anaesthesia. sissies. Well, Brock is going in for neutering tomorrow morning. The clinic performing the surgery is having me bring him in at about 8:00 a.m. Unfortunately, they neglected to mention, and I neglected to ask, whether I should restrict his access to food prior to bringing him in. It’s a little late for me to call them now, so I turn to my fellow Dopers. What’s the protocol, here? As always, thanks in advance for any replies. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-fast-before-surgery-does-my-cat/524895/2 "2010-01-14T05:13:00Z")
My mom is an nurse anesthetist. Her worst cases are car wrecks after a dinner. The patient’s stomach is full and they puke during surgery. That can block the airway and be very dangerous. It’s also disgusting for the surgical team. Kitty has the same issues. Don’t feed her for at least 12 hours. ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-fast-before-surgery-does-my-cat/524895/3 "2010-01-14T05:36:45Z")
\ Yes, it is standard practice to fast cats starting from midnight the night before. Water is ok, but no food after midnight. \ What’s Brock going in for? Neuter? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-fast-before-surgery-does-my-cat/524895/4 "2010-01-14T05:36:57Z")
Thanks for the warning. JFTR, he’s a him. At least, for now he is. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-fast-before-surgery-does-my-cat/524895/5 "2010-01-14T05:40:00Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Thanks for the warning. JFTR, he’s a him. > > At least, for now he is. 😃 Neuter it is 🙂 If it is any comfort to you, a cat neuter is about the simplest, fastest animal surgery we do. 99% of animals are back to their normal selves the next day, an even smaller percentage have any kind of complication. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-fast-before-surgery-does-my-cat/524895/6 "2010-01-14T10:33:32Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Thanks for the warning. JFTR, he’s a him. > > At least, for now he is. 😃 He’ll still be a he… just hopefully without the pesky male cat habits, the desire to literally run after pussy, and no barbed penis. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-fast-before-surgery-does-my-cat/524895/7 "2010-01-14T11:00:16Z")
> [@Pullet](#): > > Neuter it is 🙂 > > If it is any comfort to you, a cat neuter is about the simplest, fastest animal surgery we do. 99% of animals are back to their normal selves the next day, an even smaller percentage have any kind of complication. Er… so what you’re saying is that anything up to 99% of animals have any kind of complication. 😉 Yes, I know what you meant; two thoughts mashing together in your brain leading to a contradictory result. I often say things like “crish” when I mean “crush” and “squish”. Causes much amusement. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-fast-before-surgery-does-my-cat/524895/8 "2010-01-14T11:26:16Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Okay, I’ve never actually been in for surgery, and if I were going to, you can be pretty certain the surgery wouldn’t be castration. But the point is, if I were to be scheduled for an elective surgery, I would be instructed to fast from at least midnight the night before. No you wouldn’t, it would depend completely on the kind of surgery. I’ve had surgery twice and didn’t fast either time. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-fast-before-surgery-does-my-cat/524895/9 "2010-01-14T15:18:57Z")
He’ll still have the barbed penis, **KarlGrenze**. Been there, done that, seen it. \* shudder\* Barbed! Poor girl kitties. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-fast-before-surgery-does-my-cat/524895/10 "2010-01-15T03:37:57Z")
> [@whiterabbit](#): > > He’ll still have the barbed penis, **KarlGrenze**. Been there, done that, seen it. \* shudder\* Barbed! Poor girl kitties. Eh… Nope… The barbs in cat’s penises are controlled by testosterone. If there is no testosterone (castrated) or at least, not enough produced, the penis is smooth and has no barbs. If the cat already has spines in his penis, they will slough off after the castration. ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-fast-before-surgery-does-my-cat/524895/11 "2010-01-15T13:59:19Z")
That is some absolutely new information to me. Not sure if it will change my life in any way. I originally read the thread as wondering if the fact that the owner was going in for surgery meant the cat needed to fast, too. That seemed a little intense. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-to-fast-before-surgery-does-my-cat/524895/12 "2010-01-15T19:59:36Z")
> [@Pullet](#): > > Neuter it is 🙂 > > If it is any comfort to you, a cat neuter is about the simplest, fastest animal surgery we do. 99% of animals are back to their normal selves the next day, an even smaller percentage have any kind of complication. I’ve had a few male cats, and we always get them neutered ASAP. As soon as the boys recover from the anesthetic, they go on about their business, doing catly things, and don’t seem to notice that Something’s Missing Now. I’m not a vet, or vet tech, or anything, just someone who keeps cats. I just thought I’d give you an owner’s perspective.